The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily, also known as the tetraspanin family. Most of these members are cell-surface proteins that are characterized by the presence of four hydrophobic transmembrane domains. Tetraspanins mediate signal transduction events that play a role in the regulation of immune responses, cell development, activation, growth and motility.[7][8][9][10] CD37 expression is restricted to cells of the immune system, with highest abundance on mature B cells, and lower expression is found on T cells and myeloid cells. CD37 is a cell surface glycoprotein that is known to complex with integrins and other transmembrane 4 superfamily proteins. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.[6] CD37 controls both humoral[11][12] and cellular immune responses.[13][14][15] CD37-deficiency in mice leads to spontaneous development on B cell lymphoma,[16] and patients with CD37-negative lymphomas have a worse clinical outcome.[17]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Virtaneva KI, Angelisová P, Baumruker T, Horejsí V, Nevanlinna H, Schröder J (Mar 1993). "The genes for CD37, CD53, and R2, all members of a novel gene family, are located on different chromosomes". Immunogenetics. 37 (6): 461–5. doi:10.1007/BF00222471. hdl:10138/157839. PMID8436422. S2CID8899453.
^van Spriel AB, de Keijzer S, van der Schaaf A, Gartlan KH, Sofi M, Light A, Linssen PC, Boezeman JB, Zuidscherwoude M, Reinieren-Beeren I, Cambi A, Mackay F, Tarlinton DM, Figdor CG, Wright MD (November 2012). "The tetraspanin CD37 orchestrates the α(4)β(1) integrin-Akt signaling axis and supports long-lived plasma cell survival". Science Signaling. 5 (250): ra82. doi:10.1126/scisignal.2003113. PMID23150881. S2CID21237789.
^de Winde CM, Veenbergen S, Young KH, Xu-Monette ZY, Wang XX, Xia Y, Jabbar KJ, van den Brand M, van der Schaaf A, Elfrink S, van Houdt IS, Gijbels MJ, van de Loo FA, Bennink MB, Hebeda KM, Groenen PJ, van Krieken JH, Figdor CG, van Spriel AB (February 2016). "Tetraspanin CD37 protects against the development of B cell lymphoma". The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 126 (2): 653–66. doi:10.1172/JCI81041. PMC4731177. PMID26784544.
Berditchevski F (December 2001). "Complexes of tetraspanins with integrins: more than meets the eye". Journal of Cell Science. 114 (Pt 23): 4143–51. doi:10.1242/jcs.114.23.4143. PMID11739647.
Schwartz-Albiez R, Dörken B, Hofmann W, Moldenhauer G (February 1988). "The B cell-associated CD37 antigen (gp40-52). Structure and subcellular expression of an extensively glycosylated glycoprotein". Journal of Immunology. 140 (3): 905–14. PMID3257508.
Angelisová P, Hilgert I, Horejsí V (1994). "Association of four antigens of the tetraspans family (CD37, CD53, TAPA-1, and R2/C33) with MHC class II glycoproteins". Immunogenetics. 39 (4): 249–56. doi:10.1007/BF00188787. PMID8119731. S2CID20252327.
Wright MD, Rochelle JM, Tomlinson MG, Seldin MF, Williams AF (February 1993). "Gene structure, chromosomal localization, and protein sequence of mouse CD53 (Cd53): evidence that the transmembrane 4 superfamily arose by gene duplication". International Immunology. 5 (2): 209–16. doi:10.1093/intimm/5.2.209. PMID8452817.
Okochi H, Mine T, Nashiro K, Suzuki J, Fujita T, Furue M (July 1999). "Expression of tetraspans transmembrane family in the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract". Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 29 (1): 63–7. doi:10.1097/00004836-199907000-00016. PMID10405235.
Matsumoto K, Bochner BS, Wakiguchi H, Kurashige T (1999). "Functional expression of transmembrane 4 superfamily molecules on human eosinophils". International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. 120 Suppl 1: 38–44. doi:10.1159/000053592. PMID10529602. S2CID39289159.